Zambia’s Barbra Banda finishes 18th in Women’s Ballon d’Or
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Diggers
Zambia’s Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda finished 18th in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, dropping four places from the previous year. The Orlando Pride striker has been nominated for the third time, behind Esmee Brugts and ahead of Tessa Wullaert, according to France Football.
Zambian footballer Barbra Banda finished 18th in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings, announced on Monday by France Football magazine. The Copper Queens captain and Orlando Pride striker has been among the nominees for the third consecutive year, reports Diggers.
Banda fell four places compared with 2025. She finished 12th in 2024, then 14th the following year. In 2026, she ranked behind FC Barcelona player Esmee Brugts and ahead of Belgium’s Tessa Wullaert.
Alexia Putellas, the Spanish FC Barcelona midfielder, won the 2026 women’s award. Banda had already been nominated in the two previous editions.
Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time on 26 October.
